Many local communities are looking at ways they can modify land use policies that will actually encourage people to be more physically active.
"According to Dr. Frumkin, we can help people be more physically active by modifying business-as-usual, auto-oriented land use planning. One of the many studies on this topic was published in the March-April 2003 issue of the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. The paper concluded that people who live in neighborhoods where stores, schools and homes are within walking or cycling distance from each other make almost twice as many weekly trips on foot as residents of less "walkable" neighborhoods.""California can build in more opportunities for physical activity. The state is growing rapidly, and new subdivisions are popping up all over. Now is the time to stop and think about how these new neighborhoods might be built a little differently to encourage activities such as walking or bicycling. City Manager Gerald Johnson of Lincoln, in Northern California, has done just that..."This article also includes an interview with Dr. Richard Jackson, M.D., California State Public Health Officer about how the state can address physical inactivity and the obesity epidemic.
Thanks to Adam Marcus
FULL STORY: Land Use, Health and the Role of Cities
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl
The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.
Trump: Federal Government Won’t Pay for California HSR
The President has targeted federal funding for the California bullet train project since his first administration.
San Francisco Enhances Urban Planning Initiatives with Green Infrastructure
San Francisco incorporates green infrastructure in its city development initiatives, elevating the importance of sustainability in urban planning.
Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan
The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions